Sébastien Layerle

Sébastien Layerle is an Associate Professor in Film and Audiovisual Studies at Sorbonne Nouvelle - Paris 3 University, affiliated with the Department of Cinema and Audiovisual (CAV) and the IRCAV research institute. His work focuses on cinema's intersections with history, politics, and social movements, particularly in French and militant cinema of the 20th century. He coordinates interdisciplinary research projects like Cinématographiques Utopies (2023-2025) and Scopcolor et le magazine Certifié Exact (2024-2026), exploring avant-garde film collectives and cinema’s role in activism.

Research interests include: political cinema of the 1970s, documentary film practices, amateur filmmaking, and the socio-cultural history of cinema. He has authored/co-edited over 20 books, including Caméras en lutte en Mai 68 (2008) and Cinéma, marxisme, matérialisme (2023). His articles analyze films like Oser lutter, oser vaincre and collectives like CINOC-Films, emphasizing cinema’s role in ideological struggles and historical representation.

Recent projects investigate Scopcolor’s 1960s video experimentation and utopian visions in cinema. Layerle also teaches courses on militant cinema archives, political film analysis, and television’s amateur traditions. His work bridges academic research with public engagement through film catalogs, DVD editions, and collaborative research networks with institutions like the Bibliothèque Nationale de France.